With 2025 and 2026 priorities shaping budgets and classroom choices, the educational industry is moving fast and the data reflects it. While 134 million children and youth are still out of school in sub-Saharan Africa, billions are simultaneously flowing into everything from tutoring and LMS platforms to virtual classrooms and adaptive learning. We connect these contrasts across regions, learning levels, and technologies to show where demand is rising and what may be working.
Key Takeaways
- 134 million children and youth were out of school in sub-Saharan Africa in 2022
- 94% of students enrolled in tertiary education were enrolled in degree-granting institutions (OECD education statistics, 2022 latest available)
- 12.4 million students were enrolled in higher education in the United Kingdom in 2022/23
- $38.3 billion global K-12 online learning market value in 2024
- $8.6 billion global corporate e-learning market in 2023
- $19.4 billion global tutoring services market size in 2024
- Global generative AI in education market growth rate is projected at a high double-digit CAGR through 2030 (industry forecast)
- In 2024, 49% of organizations reported AI was embedded in at least one business process (Gartner survey result applied to IT/education buyers)
- In 2024, 41% of edtech leaders planned to invest in cybersecurity priorities (SHEP/ISG edtech spending survey summary)
- 62% of faculty reported using some form of digital learning tools weekly or more in 2023 (OECD TALIS-related evidence, 2020-2023 synthesis)
- 47% of learners worldwide used a mobile device for learning during remote schooling in 2020 (UNESCO global survey evidence)
- 34% of students in OECD countries used online learning platforms at least weekly in 2021 (OECD education data/analysis)
- K-12 school districts in the U.S. spent $12,802 per student in 2021 (NCES)
- Public K-12 teachers in the U.S. had a median salary of $61,820 in 2022 (BLS/NCES referenced median)
- In OECD countries, average annual expenditure per student for primary education was $9,000-$13,000 PPP (Education at a Glance 2023, Table B2.1)
Millions still lack schooling, while online learning markets and AI adoption rapidly expand worldwide.
Related reading
Global Enrollment
1134 million children and youth were out of school in sub-Saharan Africa in 2022[1]
Verified
294% of students enrolled in tertiary education were enrolled in degree-granting institutions (OECD education statistics, 2022 latest available)[2]
Verified
312.4 million students were enrolled in higher education in the United Kingdom in 2022/23[3]
Verified
419.7 million students were enrolled in U.S. public elementary and secondary schools in fall 2022[4]
Verified
515.9 million students were enrolled in U.S. higher education in fall 2022[5]
Verified
614.7 million students were enrolled in higher education in the European Union in 2022 (Eurostat)[6]
Verified
Global Enrollment Interpretation
In the Global Enrollment picture, higher education appears highly concentrated with 94% of tertiary students in degree-granting institutions while major systems also show large scale, such as 19.7 million students in US public elementary and secondary schools and 14.7 million in EU higher education in 2022, even as 134 million children and youth remain out of school across sub-Saharan Africa in 2022.
More related reading
Market Size
1$38.3 billion global K-12 online learning market value in 2024[7]
Verified
2$8.6 billion global corporate e-learning market in 2023[8]
Single source
3$19.4 billion global tutoring services market size in 2024[9]
Single source
4$14.8 billion global learning management system (LMS) market size in 2024[10]
Verified
5$15.5 billion global virtual classroom software market size in 2023 (MarketsandMarkets)[11]
Single source
6$12.3 billion global adaptive learning technology market size in 2024[12]
Single source
7$1.2 billion global student information system (SIS) market size in 2023[13]
Verified
Market Size Interpretation
In the Market Size category, the sector is expanding across multiple education technology segments with 2024 global figures like $38.3 billion for K-12 online learning, $19.4 billion for tutoring, and $14.8 billion for LMS showing that spend is spreading well beyond one channel.
More related reading
Industry Trends
1Global generative AI in education market growth rate is projected at a high double-digit CAGR through 2030 (industry forecast)[14]
Verified
2In 2024, 49% of organizations reported AI was embedded in at least one business process (Gartner survey result applied to IT/education buyers)[15]
Verified
3In 2024, 41% of edtech leaders planned to invest in cybersecurity priorities (SHEP/ISG edtech spending survey summary)[16]
Single source
Industry Trends Interpretation
Under industry trends, the education sector is moving fast as generative AI is forecast to grow at a high double-digit CAGR through 2030 and AI is already embedded in at least one business process for 49% of organizations, while 41% of edtech leaders are prioritizing cybersecurity investments in 2024.
User Adoption
162% of faculty reported using some form of digital learning tools weekly or more in 2023 (OECD TALIS-related evidence, 2020-2023 synthesis)[17]
Single source
247% of learners worldwide used a mobile device for learning during remote schooling in 2020 (UNESCO global survey evidence)[18]
Verified
334% of students in OECD countries used online learning platforms at least weekly in 2021 (OECD education data/analysis)[19]
Verified
444% of students in the U.S. took at least one distance education course in fall 2021 (NCES, 2021)[20]
Verified
555% of schools in England used a virtual learning environment (VLE) in 2023 (Department for Education)[21]
Directional
653% of corporate learners used learning content created with generative AI tools in 2024 (Gartner survey-based finding)[22]
Verified
User Adoption Interpretation
User adoption in education is accelerating across both teaching and learning channels, with weekly or more use reaching 62% of faculty in 2023 and 34% of OECD students using online platforms at least weekly in 2021, alongside broad learner uptake during remote schooling and a growing move to generative AI content where 53% of corporate learners used it in 2024.
More related reading
Cost Analysis
1K-12 school districts in the U.S. spent $12,802 per student in 2021 (NCES)[23]
Verified
2Public K-12 teachers in the U.S. had a median salary of $61,820 in 2022 (BLS/NCES referenced median)[24]
Directional
3In OECD countries, average annual expenditure per student for primary education was $9,000-$13,000 PPP (Education at a Glance 2023, Table B2.1)[25]
Directional
Cost Analysis Interpretation
From a cost analysis perspective, U.S. K-12 spending runs high at $12,802 per student in 2021, and even with that level of investment teacher pay sits at a median of $61,820 in 2022, which contrasts with OECD primary education spending of about $9,000 to $13,000 PPP per student where costs are generally in the lower range.
More related reading
Learning Outcomes
1Students who used retrieval practice showed a performance increase of about 16% to 80% depending on the study design (peer-reviewed meta-analysis of learning techniques)[26]
Verified
2Meta-analysis found computer-assisted instruction improved learning outcomes with an average effect size of d≈0.30 to 0.50 across many studies (peer-reviewed education technology synthesis)[27]
Single source
3A randomized controlled trial found tutoring increased reading achievement by about 0.3 standard deviations compared with control (U.S. Institute of Education Sciences practice guide summary of evidence)[28]
Verified
4A meta-analysis reported that formative assessment practices were associated with an effect size around 0.40 standard deviations on student achievement (peer-reviewed synthesis)[29]
Verified
5Spaced learning improves long-term retention; meta-analyses report benefits of spaced over massed practice by approximately 0.5 to 1.0 standard deviation for retention measures (peer-reviewed)[30]
Verified
6STEM project-based learning showed an improvement in student achievement with an average effect size of around d≈0.37 (meta-analysis published in a peer-reviewed journal)[31]
Directional
7Online learning meta-analysis found blended learning improved student performance by an average effect size of about 0.35 compared with traditional methods (peer-reviewed synthesis)[32]
Single source
8A large-scale meta-analysis found that adaptive learning systems produced effect sizes of approximately 0.18 to 0.30 on learning outcomes (peer-reviewed evaluation synthesis)[33]
Directional
9In PISA 2022, the OECD average mathematics score was 472 (OECD)[34]
Verified
Learning Outcomes Interpretation
Learning outcomes are consistently improved across evidence based strategies, with retrieval practice raising performance by about 16% to 80% and spaced learning boosting long term retention by roughly 0.5 to 1.0 standard deviations, showing that well designed learning methods deliver strong measurable gains.
How We Rate Confidence
Models
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Single source
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Directional
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
Verified
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Models
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Margot Villeneuve. (2026, February 13). Educational Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/educational-industry-statistics
MLA
Margot Villeneuve. "Educational Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/educational-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Margot Villeneuve. 2026. "Educational Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/educational-industry-statistics.
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